COM6655 Professional Issues
| Summary |
This module aims to enable students to recognise the legal, social, ethical and professional issues involved in the exploitation of computer technology and be guided by the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical and legal practices. It describes
the relationship between technological change, society and
the law, including the powerful role that computers and
computer professionals play in a technological society. It
introduces key legal areas which are specific and
relevant to the discipline of computing (e.g., intellectual
property, liability for defective software, computer misuse,
etc) and aims to provide an understanding of ethical and societal concepts that are important to computer professionals, and
experience of considering ethical dilemmas. |
| Session |
Autumn 2024/25 |
| Credits |
15 |
| Assessment |
- Mid-term test
- Formal Exam
|
| Lecturer(s) |
Dr Mike Stannett & Dr Paul Watton |
| Resources |
|
| Aims |
- to develop an understanding of the relationship
between computing, technological change, society and the
law;
- to emphasise the powerful role that information and
computer professionals play in a technological society;
- to provide an understanding of legal areas which are
relevant to the discipline of computing;
- to develop awareness and understanding of the environmental and societal impacts of software solutions, and approaches to their mitigation;
- to provide an understanding of the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in engineering practice;
- to provide an understanding of ethical concepts that
are important to a computer professional;
- to give experience in the consideration of ethical
matters and solving ethical dilemmas.
|
| Learning Outcomes |
By the end of this course the students should be able to:
- Discuss the environmental and societal entire-lifecycle impact of software solutions to complex problems, and how to minimise adverse impacts.
- Explain, and reason using, the current legal framework within which computer and software systems are developed, applied and regulated;
- Discuss the effect of the law upon the design of, and professional liability for, computer and software systems;
- Discuss the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion as part of an inclusive approach to engineering practice;
- Identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct.
|
| Content |
- The social context of computing and the role of information specialists in society
- Environmental and societal impacts of software solutions to complex problems
- Introduction to basic concepts in English Law
- Intellectual property, copyright and patents
- Contracts and liability
- Computer misuse and computer crime
- Data protection and privacy
- Introduction to ethics and moral philosophy
- Professional ethics for computer scientists
- The responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion as part of an inclusive approach to engineering practice
|
| Restrictions |
Optional modules within the department have limited capacity. We will always try to accommodate all students but cannot guarantee a place. |
| Teaching Method |
Emphasis will be put on directed reading and on the practical applications of the material to be researched. Teaching will be delivered through a combination of lectures, flipped learning and tutorials. Applications of
the material from the lectures to practical problems will be discussed in the tutorials. |
| Feedback |
Feedback on the mid-term test will be given verbally in a tutorial. |
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